ASHRAE Launches new Terminology Site: ASHRAEwiki

Definitions of terms found in ASHRAE standards and other publications can be found at a new Website.

The free ASHRAEwiki contains more than 6,000 terms related to buildings, with a particular focus on mechanical, envelope, electrical, lighting, load calculations, design, water design/conservation, and energy-use and measurement metrics.

“Common terminology in communications and particularly in standards helps users in their understanding, thus, encouraging adoption and use,” Art Hallstrom, a member of ASHRAE Technical Committee (TC) 1.6, Terminology, said. “The ASHRAEwiki goal is to improve communication by encouraging the use of consistent terminology definitions within ASHRAE and the industry worldwide.”

ASHRAEwiki can create custom reports of terms and primary definitions that will aid in the development of standards, guidelines, Handbooks, and other ASHRAE publications. With time, it may have broader use across the industry, according to Hallstrom.

For each term, one or more primary (recommended) definitions is provided, along with the ASHRAE standard(s) in which the term is used, the definition source, and known legal information, such as trademark registration. The wiki also lists any secondary definitions used in an ASHRAE standard or guideline.

“There is no requirement to use an ASHRAEwiki primary definition, but standards developers should be able to see the value in consistency across all standards,” Hallstrom said.

ASHRAEwiki terms are grouped by words, symbols, abbreviations, and acronyms. Definitions may use inch-pound or International System units. ASHRAEwiki is in English, but might be expanded to other languages.

“ASHRAEwiki content is controlled by the ASHRAEwiki editors and TC 1.6, but suggestions from individuals or organizations are welcome,” Bruce Billedeaux, TC 1.6 vice chair, said. “Suggestions can be entered in the wiki discussion section or sent to the ASHRAEwiki editor.”

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